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p J. H. HOBSON ROTARY TIMER Filed June 50, 1926 John 3 0Q 41 {oz Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITEDTSTATIES 1,641,972 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN 11., eason, or sn rnnasrnmes, ARKANSAS, ,essrenora or ONE-FIFTH T J. BROWN, AND ONErFIETI-I 'ro wrrson 'r. FEAZELL. i

; ROTARY TIMER Application filed June 30, 192a Serial No. 119,545.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken about on the line 33 o-fFigure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 marks a clock frame within which is located a partition 2, the dial of the clock being designated by the numeral 3 and being provided with an index 30. The minute arbor is shown at 4 and carries the minute hand 5, a hollow shaft 6 being rotatable upon the minute arbor 4, the shaft 6carrying the hour hand 7.

There is an insulating sleeve 8 on the hollow shaft 6 and about the sleeve 8 is 10- 5 cated a tube 9 of conducting material. A

binding post 10 is mounted on the partition 2 and carries a conductor 11, the binding post serving as a retainer for a spring brush 12 which rides on the inner end .of the conducting tube 9.

The tube 9 has a circumferential rib 14 against which abuts an insulating disk 15 on the tube 9. The disk 15 is frictionally held on the tube 9 to rotate with the tube. By the application of suflicientforce, however, the disk 15 may be turned on the tube 9 to adjust the position of the disk. Near to its periphery, the disk 15 is'supplied with a plurality of transverse contact buttons 16 provided with fingers ,17 which project outwardly to the periphery of the disk 15, the buttons 16 and their fingers 17 being made of conducting material. Spring tongues 18, of conducting material, are mounted on the tube 9 and are held thereon by a nut 19 threaded on the tube 9, the nut binding the tongues 18 against the circumferential rib 14. The construction is such that the tongues 18 ordinarily move with the disk 15 when the disk 15 turns with the tube 9, but it is possible to swing any of the tongues 18 with respect to the disk 15, so as to place the outer ends of the tongues 18 on any desired ones of the contact buttons 16, the buttons being numbered from one to twelve, to correspond with the hours of the day.

A radius arm 20 is provided, and is pivotally mounted at 21 on the partition 2. Near to its free end, the radius arm 20 carries an insulating bushing 23. In the bush ing 23 is mounted a contact and binding .member 24. The inner end of the contact and binding member 24 rests on the pee riphery of the disk 15 and is adapted to come into contact with the buttons 16, as the disk 15 is rotated. In order to secure a firm contact between the member 24 and the buttons 16, the radius arm 20 is drawndownwardly by a retractile spring 22, the upper end of the spring being connected to the radius arm 20, and the lower end of the spring being connected to the partition 2, as disclosed in Figure 2." A conductor 25 is joined to the contact and bind ing member 24 and extends through a hole 26 in the partition 2.

The operator fixes upon the hour when he wishes the alarm to be sounded, and sets the tongues 18, accordingly, on the contact but tons 16. If it is desired that the alarm shall be sounded on the half hour, or at any time between the even. hours, then the disk 15 is turned forcibly on the shaft 6, the index 30 being made use of to set the disk 15 in such a way that the alarm will be sounded on the half hour, or at any other time be tween the hoursan observation which will be understood readily when Figure 1 of the drawings is noted.

The disk 15 rotates with thehour shaft 6, and, ultimately, that one of the contact buttons 16 whereon the tongue 18 rests, .comes up into contact with the member 24 on the radius arm 20. When there is established a circuit comprising the conductor 11, the spring brush 12, the conducting tube 9, the spring tongue 18, the contact button 16,- and its finger 17, thecontact member 24 on the lever 20, and the conductor 25, it being possible, thus, to sound or operate otherwise a signal (not shown) located in a circuit whereof the conductors 25 and 11 form parts.

What is claimed is J. ALVIN BROWN, O NEFIFTH;TQ CHESTER A. SWARENS, ONE-FIFTH; TO WILLIAM i In a device of the class described, a frame,

of the conducting tube, an insulating disk frictionally held on the tube and located on the opposite side of the frame, the disk being provided with side contacts which are exposed at the periphery of the disk, the

tube being provided with a circumferential rib against which the disk abuts, a spring tongue, means for binding the tongue adjustably against the rib, whereby the tongue may be shifted to engage any of the contacts, yieldable mechanism for engaging any of the contactsat the periphery of the disk, and means for bringing said mechanism into an electrical circuit.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have'hereto affixed my signature.

JOHN H. HOBSON. 

